1. JIGGLY JAPANESE PANCAKES LAND IN BRISBANE
🚨 Brisbane, say hello to the only joint in town DEDICATED to Japanese Souffle Pancakes!
☁️ These FLUFFY and JIGGLY delights gained a cult following in Japan before spreading their cloud-like magic across the globe, and now finally to Brisbane!
FEATURED 📸
🍵 Uji Matcha (18.5) ⭐️
Our FAVOURITE! The matcha was authentic and mellow, adding a subtle touch of sweetness to these cloud-like pancakes which were MELT in your mouth like marshmellows
🔥 Creme Brûlée ($19.5)
THE brûlée was torched to a perfection, with a satisfying CRACK with the gentlest tap of a spoon
☕️ Biscoffee ($19.5)
A crowd FAVOURITE - a creative take on Biscoff, with a touch of coffee cream and whipped mascarpone
🧋 Black Sugar Boba ($18.5)
The boba cream was generous and decadent, with the chewiness of the pearls contrasting the texture of the souffle pancake perfectly
☀️ Sunny Honey ($17)
For those who want to appreciate these jiggly delights for what they are - the simple addition of whipped butter and Jarrah Honey takes it to the NEXT level!
We watched them prepare the jiggly pancakes and if the batch wasn’t fluffy enough, they wouldn’t serve that batch to customers 🤯 Their dedication to creating quality food is really admirable and we really respect that.
🗓 The Kumokumo pop-up will be in South Bank from 23 November to 29 January!
From fantasticfeastz
2. BRISBANE’S BEST BRUNCHES
Step inside this rustic warehouse which has been TRANSFORMED into one of the BUSIEST brunch spots on the Northside!
Famous for their PADDOCK TO PLATE concept, Farmhouse pays homage to LOCAL producers and offers an ever changing menu to reflect the freshest seasonal ingredients
FEATURED 📸
1️⃣ Coconut Panna Cotta ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🥥 THE BEST BRUNCH DISH OF 2022 - Queensland on a plate! The panna cotta was jiggly and bursting with coconut flavour! All the elements complemented each other perfectly, with fresh mango and a heavenly farmhouse granola offering some serious crunch to keep the tastebuds going!
2️⃣ Farmhouse Potato Cake
🥔The potato cake was fried to perfection and was super CRISPY, packed full of surprises like gooey cheese and spring onion!
3️⃣ Hot and Sour Avo on Toast
🥑 We loved the locally sourced chili jam which gave a nice KICK of heat and sour - Far from your average smashed avo
From fantasticfeastz
3. BRISBANE’S MUST TRY YAKITORI
Grab a FRONT ROW seat at the yakitori bar and watch talented chefs sizzle your favourite meats and veggies over a hot Robata Grill
🔥 Cooked over authentic binchotan (white) charcoal, each dish had the perfect hit of SMOKY flavour, yet wasn’t overpowering allowing natural flavours to shine ✨
⭐️ Highlights would have to include their Wagyu steak which was MELT in your mouth and the Negima Yakitori which was super JUICY with a generous coating of Tare, a soy based sauce adding a sweet yet UMAMI flavour!
FEATURED 📸
🥩 Jacks Creek Wagyu Steak 200g ($56) ⭐️
🍗 Negima (Chicken, shallot, tare - $11) ⭐️
🧅 Sasami (Chicken with wasabi mayo - $12)
🦴 Yagen Nankotsu (soft cartilage - $10)
🍄 Eringi (oyster mushroom, dashi, butter - $11)
🥓 Kakuni (pork belly, Jap mustard - $16.5)
From fantasticfeastz
4. BRISBANE’S BEST ANTIPASTI
Step inside Brisbane’s HOTTEST trattoria where sophistication meets classic charm
🍑 Lined with peach hued terracotta tiling and olive trees, take a seat in the central bar whilst overlooking a busy open kitchen with chefs preparing simple Italian classics you know and love to a whole new level!
FEATURED 📸
🥯 Pizza bianca ($6) ⭐️
🧀 Whipped ricotta, Jerusalem artichoke, pickled celery ($18) ⭐️
🥓 Prosciutto de Parma ($14)
🧀 Caprese salad, mozzarella, nectarine ($20)
🥬 Radicchio, orange, fennel ($15)
From fantasticfeastz
5. MELBOURNE’S BEST MOCHI. SAVE THIS FOR YOUR NEXT MELBOURNE TRIP
🧱 Disguised as a convenience store behind a red brick frontage lies one of Melbourne’s most HYPED spots for HOUSE MADE Japanese goodies sweet and savory!
⭐️ With queues from dusk to dawn, our highlight would have to be their Daifuku, where signature Japanese flavored gelato like genmaicha and houji chocolate are wrapped in a delicately thin and stretchy mochi!
FEATURED 📸
🍵 Genmaicha Daifuku ($5.8) - 10/10 ⭐️
The genmaicha taste was super AUTHENTIC with the perfect balance of sweetness. The texture was INSANE with the outer mochi skin and adding an extra layer of chew and a surprise of mochi pearls within the ice cream itself!
From fantasticfeastz
6. BRISBANE’S BEST BOTTOMLESS BRUNCHES
Grab your girls and block out your Sunday for an afternoon of BOTTOMLESS spritzes, mimosas, and ALL YOU CAN EAT nibbles at Tetto, a gorgeous ROOFTOP bar that will transport you to the coastal towns across the Italian Riviera!
1️⃣ BOTTOMLESS DRINKS
☀️ Sunset Spritz
🍊 Aperol Spritz
🥂 Mimosas
🍏 Apple Cider
🍺 Stone and Wood Pacific Ale
🍻 House Lager
🍺Brookvale
2️⃣ ALL YOU CAN EAT
🥓 Antipasti Grazing Board
🍗Chicken Bites
🧀 Halloumi Fries
🍚 Arancini
🍿 Popcorn Gnocchi
🍟 Chips
💰$75 per person (Sundays, 12PM - 2PM)
From fantasticfeastz
7. MUST TRY FOODS IN OSAKA
Osaka is one of the ULTIMATE food destinations of Japan
🏬 Dotonbori is a MUST-VISIT destination in Osaka, filled with colorful buildings, sky-high light displays, loads of shopping and best of all…FOOD!!
⭐️ Here are 3 must-try foods in Dotonburi!
1️⃣ Takoyaki (たこ焼き)
🐙 Takoyaki is one of Osaka’s quintessential street foods! Filled with tempura bits and octopus, they are super CRISPY on the outside yet super GOOEY on the inside!
2️⃣ Kushikatsu (串揚げ)
🍡 Kushikatsu is an array of deep-fried, skewers with ANYTHING in your wildest imagination - meat, fruits and even MOCHI (our favorite). A classic Osakan working-class food, made even better with a drink alongside!
3️⃣ Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き)
🥬 A popular street Osakan street food famous around the world, Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake JAM PACKED with eggs, cabbage, and your choice of protein. Top it off with a generous coating of UNAMI sauces like kewpie mayo and you’ve got yourself the ultimate comfort meal
From fantasticfeastz
8. MATCHA RAMEN IN TOKYO
Here is best known for their famous matcha ramen! While it looks quite intense 🤯, it’s actually quite a subtle matcha flavour (just a hint) but as you get to the bottom of the bowl, the flavour gets a little more intense 💚 I really liked how they let you customise your noodle firmness and their broth isn’t too rich or fatty which is great because you can easily finish the entire bowl!
The lines aren’t too crazy compared to other popular ramen places in Tokyo (we only waited about 5 minutes). Even if you don’t love matcha, I highly recommend that you check out at least one of their ramen 😊
P.s. what’s your preferred noodle firmness? Mine is firm 🍜
🍵 Matcha Tori Paitan Ramen - ¥1100
🥩Wagyu Tan Tan Noodle - ¥1200
🍜White truffle scented Tori Paitan Ramen with Wagyu - ¥1050
🍡Mochi Dumplings - ¥400
From fantasticfeastz
9. THE JIGGLIEST PANCAKES IN THE WORLD, at 2-1-11 Nishiasakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo-to 111-0035
Japanese souffle pancakes have gone VIRAL around the world, and here’s where you can an authentic version which is possibly the JIGGLIEST in Japan!
⏰ With reservation vouchers required to even get in, be prepared to line up EARLY as they are distributed at 8:30AM and only available to 60 LUCKY customers per day!
🥓 You MUST TRY their famous savoury pancake – this FLUFFY and JIGGLY cloud is taken to another level with an EXPLOSION of textures and flavours with CRISPY bacon, creamy and GOOEY poached egg and a smothering of golden tangy hollandaise!
🍵 Red beans, Matcha and Kinako Powder - ¥1800
🥓🍳 Bacon and Eggs - ¥1900
Unfortunately their service isn’t the warmest but their food is definitely amazing
From fantasticfeastz
10. TOKYO’S BEST SUSHI WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG
You’re in the sushi capital of the world - but where do you go for quality sushi worth traveling for without breaking the bank?
🔥 Line go OUT THE DOOR daily for Sushi Nomidori (寿司の美登利) and it’s not hard to see why! Their most popular location is their Shinbuya branch but I went to their Ginza store and LOVED it. It’s actually quite a big restaurant with plenty of seats (relative to other Japanese restaurants).
💴 For only ¥3630 (incl. tax) you can have a GENEROUS selection of quality cuts such as uni, fatty salmon, fatty tuna (otoro), unagi and fish sperm!
📍 They span several locations across Tokyo including Ginza, Akasaka and Shibuya but no matter where you go you’ll have to come in EARLY to secure your chance to chow down on some of Tokyo’s freshest sushi without leaving with an empty wallet!
I highly recommend booking online because I was able to just walk in right when they opened at 11am but there had already been a crazy long line from 10:30am
From fantasticfeastz
11. TOKYO’S CHEWIEST UDON
Arriving in front of you like braided rope, these buckwheat udon are made fresh IN-HOUSE and are some of the CHEWIEST in town!
🔥 Udon Shin in Shinjuku is a FAVOURITE with both the locals and tourists and lines go OUT THE DOOR everyday!
🙋♂️ Pick from cold or hot versions, topped with ingredients such as crispy tempura, tender sliced beef, mentaiko and gooey soft boiled egg.
FEATURED 📸
🔥Hot udon noodles with parmesan cheese, butter, pepper, bacon tempura and egg - 1480
🔥Beef Udon noodles in soup with tempura + burdock root tempura - 1690
🧊Cold soy sauce udon with cod roe and a soft boiled egg - 1080
📍慎 Shin Udon
2 151 0053, 2 Chome-20-16 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan
From fantasticfeastz
12. TOKYO’S BEST WAGYU BOWL
This volcano like dish is surrounded by layers of JUICY rare beef (slow roasted for 7 HOURS!), with an gooey ERUPTION of creamy egg yolk and umami sauces to take this premium wagyu to the next level
📍Roast Beef Ōno
Japan, 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 1 Chome−2−3 土屋ビル 地下1階
💴 Price
180g ¥1605
240g ¥2000
From fantasticfeastz
13. MUST TRY FOOD IN JAPAN
Gyukatsu is a deep-fried wagyu cutlet served sliced thinly into bite-size pieces, also here is a MUST TRY in Kyoto, being the pioneers of this very dish itself!
🍞Their panko is refined TEN times, allowing for a super CRISPY coating
🔥 Presented rare, the meat is super JUICY - they provide a flaming hot grill for you to cook it to your hearts desire and have some FUN!
📍 Japan, 〒604-8041 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Uraderacho, 594 ＯＣＴ １Ｆ
🥩 Wagyu Gyukatsu with soft boiled egg: ¥3069
From fantasticfeastz
14. MUST TRY FOOD AT ARASHIYAMA. Save this for your trip!
With endless rows of towering bamboo, Arashiyama’s Sagano Bamboo Forest is world-renowned for its serene, and dreamlike scenery, but did you know all the yummy food there!? 🤤🤯
1️⃣ Dango
I’m not exaggerating, these are genuinely the CUTEST and most BEAUTIFUL dango I have ever seen! They’re super fresh and delightfully chewy with so many different topping flavours (my personal favorite was the super unique and creamy milk dango!)
🍡 Dango is a Japanese glutinous rice flour dumpling with a firmer and chewier texture than mochi which is made from steamed and pounded rice (see our mochi pounding video for more) 🥰
2️⃣ Sweet Potato Fries
🍠 Choose from 3 different types of fried sweet potato: French fries, chips and chunky wedges. There’s something for everyone!
3️⃣ Cremia Soft Serve Ice Cream
🍦 Arguably some of the BEST ice cream in the world / Cremia is world famous for its PREMIUM quality, consisting of 25% Hokkaido fresh cream and 12.5% high milk fat for a rich flavour and silky texture. HOWEVER, my cone was really watery, icy not creamy AT ALL 😭 Truly devastated to say that I didn’t like it. Instead of a traditional waffle cone, they use thin crispy langue de chat cone and this was delicious! The cone was definitely the saving grace 🙇♀️
4️⃣ Deep Fried Fish Skewers
🐠 They serve 4 different flavours:
🧀 Yuba & Cheese
🐙 Octopus & Green Onion
🔥 Spicy cuttlefish & Leek
🦐 Shrimp and Mayonaise
They’re all freshly fried when you place your order so they’re served to you PIPING hot 🥵 They’re especially delicious during cold winter days! For ¥1500 I got to try all 4 flavours and while they’re all yummy the Octopus was extra crispy on the outside and my personal favourite!
From fantasticfeastz
15. TOKYO’S HIDDEN GEMS, at Menya Mugiemon
Japan, 〒160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City
🍜 Here in Shinjuku only opened last August but trust us, these are the BEST noodles we had in Japan!
5️⃣ They serve FIVE different types of HANDMADE noodles! Can’t decide which one? They’ve got you covered, with one of their dishes offering THREE types of ramen in one!
You order from a vending machine and give your ticket(s) to the staff. NOTE: The entire menu is in Japanese. There was no English translation so I had to show the wonderful staff photos of the dishes I wanted and they helped guide me in the right direction 🥹❤️
🧊 These HANDMADE delights are shocked in ice to create a super CHEWY and BOUNCY texture perfectly suited for their super thick and umami broth!
From fantasticfeastz
16. THE WORLD’S BEST MATCHA TIRAMISU!? At 604-8026 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Komeyacho, 382‐2
Maccha House is a worldwide sensation - with international stores in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, they serve over 10,000 servings of their signature Uji Maccha Tiramisu EVERYDAY
Their FLAGSHIP store is located in the heart of Kyoto, only a stones throw away from the Kiyomizudera Temple!
🍵 Dig underneath a generous dusting of
Kyoto’s premium “Morihan” matcha powder with more than 170 years of history, to discover alternate layers of rich mascarpone cream and FLUFFY chiffon and matcha sponge
The queues for their signature dessert can be up to 4 hours! Would you line up for this?
From fantasticfeastz
17. BRISBANE’S BEST BRUNCH
You heard us! Not one of, but the BEST brunch in town!
⏰ But don’t just take our word for it…with lines going OUT THE DOOR every weekend, be prepared to wait up to 30 minutes for a table!
☕️ Enjoy your cuppa in a refreshing space with wide open windows that cast shadows over clean white and timber furnishings, brass finishes and tufts of greenery
📸 FEATURED
1️⃣ Salmon, charred broccolini, heirloom carrot, corn, watercress, almond & basil pesto, citrus labneh ($27) - 9/10
🐟 The crispy salmon skin was just the start - a generous splash of olive oil charred the bed of veggies to PERFECTION! The almond and basil pesto not only gave the dish a burst of vibrant Mediterranean flavour, but also an addition of crunchy texture too!
2️⃣ Linguine, prawns, chilli, basil, parmesan cream, heirloom tomato, white wine ($26) - 9/10
🍝 A super hearty dish - although not hand made or super authentic, the prawns were super plump and the sauce was packed full of flavour.
3️⃣ Truffle mushroom & leek croquettes, truffle yoghurt, grilled mushroom, avocado, dukkah, garlic tomato, haloumi, fried egg ($25) - 9/10
🍄 Say goodbye to bland and boring potato croquettes! Encircling a gorgeous sunny side up are these CRUNCHY bites of perfection that filled with a mix of mushroom and truffle that was super EARTHY!
✏️ Why we think this is Brisbane’s BEST brunch…
⭐️ GENEROUS - the portion sizes here are definitely substantial and the prices are very reasonable compared to nearby establishments
⭐️ CREATIVITY - each dish has its own UNIQUE flavour and texture profile. The dishes are super HEARTY making it the perfect hangover spot after a late night out
From fantasticfeastz
18. BRISBANE’S MOST AESTHETIC BRUNCHES
🔥 Peach Cafe in Auchenflower is surely one of Brisbane’s most POPULAR brunch joints!
☀️ Having TRANSFORMED a charming Queenslander into a cozy plant filled oasis, they offer a huge range of ALL-DAY brunch classics, each with a creative TWIST!
FEATURED 📸
🧀 Mr Crispy Grilled Cheese ($22) ⭐️ - Roasted mushrooms, chili oil and dippy egg on thick cut milk bread
🍰 Biscoff Cheesecake French Toast ($24) ⭐️ - Hong Kong style French Toast condensed milk ice cream, summer berries, cereal crumb, lemon balm ($24)
🐠 Under the Sea ($22) - Crispy barramundi, lime mayo and green onion slaw on a local milk bun
⛱ The Beachside Benny ($23) - Panko prawns, prawn crackers, greens, poached eggs, miso samba hollaindaise, brioche sub
VERDICT ✏️
Everything was super aesthetic and tasty, but we absolutely LOVED the grilled cheese - the bread was crispy on the outside yet super FLUFFY and buttery on the inside with a huge BURST of hot melty cheese! A must try!
From fantasticfeastz
19. BRISBANE’S BEST BOTTOMLESS LUNCHES
☀️In the heart of Eagle St with stellar views of the riverside and Story Bridge, step inside this coastal-chic, Amalfi-inspired haven filled with vibrant orange and white!
🍸This is surely one of Brisbane’s most GENEROUS bottomless packages, offering not only UNLIMITED drinks, but also a whole TEN COURSE BANQUET on top!
📸FEATURED - “Banquet Menu”
EAT 🍽
🍞 Fresh tomato dip with house bread
🍣 Kingfish
🦑 Flash Fried Calamari
🔥 Lamb with herb crust and mushrooms
🍚 Truffle risotto
🍆 Eggplant parmigiana
🍤 Prawn cavatelli, truffle stracciatella cheese
🍗 Alla diavola devil chicken w/ chilli & lemon, potatoes, ricotta & spinach
🥬 Cos salad, walnuts, parmesan
🍩 Donut w/ nutella and pistachio cream
DRINK 🍾
🍷Counterpoint wine
🥂 Sparkling wine
🍺 Beer
DETAILS ✏️
🗓 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (12-3pm)
🏷 $99pp ($129 for “Signature Banquet”)
⏰ 2 hour package
From fantasticfeastz
20. MICHELIN STAR SHAVED ICE IN JAPAN, at Azuki to Kouri 1-46-2 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo
Kakigori is a traditional Japanese dessert that in its simplest form is finely-shaved ice topped with fruity syrups and cream
⭐️ Opened by MICHELIN star pastry chef Miho Horio, Azuki to Kouri turns simple shaved ice into a delicious work of art - watch as she tops your kakigori with alternating layers of fresh fruit, syrups, creams, foams, jellies and other interesting elements for extra texture and excitement
☀️ The daily menu features several different flavours embracing seasonal ingredients. Whilst their signature flavour, Azuki to Meringue boasts sweet red beans, fresh cream and crunchy meringue, our favourite flavour by far had to be the Persimmon Milk
From fantasticfeastz
21. KYOTO’S BEST WAGYU
🔥 This is one of Kyoto’s most famous Yakiniku joints and is certainly worth a visit if you’re after some seriously juicy and high quality wagyu!
⭐️ Highlights would have to include their raw meat - don’t knock it till you try it! Absolutely MELT in your mouth
📍 Yakiniku Hiro
２５ Higashikujo Minamisannocho, Minami Ward, Kyoto, 601-8011, Japan
From fantasticfeastz
22. Modern Greek with an ATTITUDE
Named after the Greek god for hospitality, Zeus offers traditional Greek street food served in a casual environment with a modern TWIST
❤️ They will always have a special place in our heart, having been one of our first ever date spot on a rainy day many years ago..
They’ve got the classic pita wraps and salad bowls millions of hungry diners have come to love over the years, but also some new additions such as their CRUNCHY zucchini fries and ultra DECADENT loukoumades which are super yummy!
FEATURED 📸
Tzimmy Classic
🍗 Chicken w/ chips, tzatziki, tomato, onion, parsley, paprika
Zeus
🥩 Lamb, slaw, eggplant dip, vegan mustard mayo, bukovo flakes
Loukoumades
🍩 10 donut balls topped w/ Nutella and walnuts.
Zucchini Fries
🥒 Delicious sticks of juicy zucchini with a lightening crunch.
From fantasticfeastz
23. I WAITED 2.5 HOURS FOR THIS! Japan has the best and freshest sea food!!!
It is a small 11 seat restaurant that only serves one type of dish, Kaisendon (a mixed seafood rice bowl). Yes the seafood on top was yummy but that bream soup was TO DIE FOR. When you’ve finished about 3/4 of your rice bowl, kindly ask for “ochazuke” and they will serve you some delicious soup (and additional rice if you want more). It’s so creamy with a nice tang from the yuzu and it’s not fishy at all!
If you love sashimi and fresh seafood and you have plenty of time in Tokyo, then it’s definitely worth a shot! The lines are really long though so you’ve been warned
P.s. they’re cash only
🐟Tokujyo - ¥3600
From fantasticfeastz
24. The world’s most FAMOUS mochi. Each piece sells for only ¥150! At Located to the west of Nara Park, Nakatanidou is a 5 minute walk south of Kintetsu Nara Station
🔥 In the heart of Nara, Nakatanidou has gone VIRAL around the world for churning out fresh, warm and stretchy mochi through a unique traditional pounding process known as mochitsuki
🔨 Join the HUGE crowd of onlookers as mochi masters punctuate each swing of a GIANT pestle with a loud shout!
🌱 Nakatanidou’s specialty is yomogi mochi. Yomogi is a Japanese wild plant also known as mugwort, giving the mochi a gorgeous green hue and refreshing taste.
💨 The fresh mochi was served HOT and was perfectly chewy and stretchy, made even better with a super gooey anko (red bean) filling and dusting of kinako (roasted soybean) for some extra nuttiness
From fantasticfeastz